The rest is just noise

When Shawn Kemp was called for his sixth foul, it felt like someone had died in Madison Square Garden.

"You can smell despair in the air," the tragedy master said.

Louis looked back at the players off the court. Who can replace Kemp?

McHale Selly Hikma Rohaus?

In fact, this was just a choice between McHale or Selley. Among them, Louis chose McHale.

Selley has more value on the defensive end, but McHale's offense should help relieve some of the pressure on Ewing.

The Knicks have Stockton, Rodman, Stevens and Ewing on the court. They don't lack defense, they lack offense.

"Kevin, I know this isn't the time, but I need you to get all the gas out of the tank!" Louie put his hand on McHale's back, "Larry Nance, who also had four fouls, told Patrie

Ke, attack their restricted area at all costs!"

"Okay, coach."

Louis didn't see any tension in McHale. When he traded him with the second overall pick from Chicago, he just wanted him to lead young people. Louis also didn't expect that McHale would stay in New York for so many years. Maybe.

His career would end in New York, and he had earned himself enough honors to have his jersey retired at the Garden.

Most teams have veterans like McHale. Some have perverse personalities, some are shy and quiet, some are unrestrained and enthusiastic, and some are ageless naughty boys. When they get older, they are willing to give up their positions to young people. Do you think

They are no longer good, and they feel that they are no longer good, but when the team needs it, they will step forward.

It's not until moments like this that people remember the sacrifices they made for the team, something no one noticed before.

"Kevin McHale comes in to replace Shawn Kemp!"

"The garden crowd is roaring!"

At that moment, Wilson wanted to get up and ask for a fight, but was stopped by the team doctor.

"It's not 'that moment' yet, Benj," said Blair Kaminsky.

With 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Barkley made an extra free throw, 79 to 77, and the Trail Blazers took the lead for the first time since the start.

"John!" Louie yelled at Stockton, "Hit 2 High Rip!"

This is McHale's exclusive tactic, and it has long been Ewing's exclusive tactic. Ewing has no objection to handing over the tactic to McHale at this moment.

The Knicks' tactics were immediately implemented. The Trail Blazers were all too familiar with this routine. They deliberately intercepted McHale's downward path and forced him to get the ball in the high post.

McHale caught the ball in the high post and immediately took action.

miss

But Ewing, Rodman and Stevens made it difficult for the Blazers to protect the rebound.

Rodman flew up from the crowd, picked off the offensive rebound, and passed it back to McHale.

McHale took another shot and hit a hollow hit.

79 to 79

Defense and rebounding, these two things have become the lifeline of the Knicks and the tools they use against the Trail Blazers.

Barkley's offense attracted multiple double-teams and found Jordan.

Jordan missed an open shot.

Ewing grabbed the rebound, and the Knicks' counterattack failed and fell into a positional battle.

Playing the 2 High Rip tactic again, McHale caught the ball in the low post and followed Louis' instructions to attack the Blazers' penalty area with all his strength.

Seeing McHale use up and down steps to get rid of Clifford Robinson's defense, Larry Nance pounced on him ruthlessly and knocked the veteran to the ground.

The boos came accurately. McHale stood up and stopped the young man who wanted to stand up for him. He said with a smile: "What's wrong with this? My body is very strong, not to mention how resistant I am to falling!"

That was Nance's fifth foul.

Only then did the Blazers realize that their first rim protector was in foul trouble.

But Nance's defense didn't back down.

Pat Riley stood on the sidelines and encouraged: "The crazier their offense is, the harder we have to fight back!"

Riley is a control freak and the best instigator. His words arouse the players' blood like chicken blood.

The Blazers' offense reached the frontcourt, and Barkley passed the ball outside after being flanked.

Jordan caught the ball and pierced Stevens' defense with one step. Just as he was about to attack the basket, he was entangled by Stevens and was violently fouled before he could take off.

Jordan went to the free throw line and made one of two free throws.

80 to 79

The Knicks' offense continued to hit the basket, this time with the cooperation between McHale and Ewing.

After Ewing got the ball, his attack was disrupted, but the Knicks' rush for offensive rebounds left the Blazers unable to deal with it. The inside was their most vulnerable point, and offensive rebounds were easily accessible to the New Yorkers.

Rodman rushed down the ninth offensive rebound of the night, scored the second attack, and the Knicks took the lead!

He showed off his shooting hand, with the muscles on it protruding outwards, "You don't even see enough!"

"Attention Mickey!" Louis' reminder was still a beat too slow.

Jordan passed Stevens after a back-up move, entered the basket faster than anyone else, and held Ewing's body in the air. After the referee blew the whistle, he forced the ball out.

"Whoosh!"

Ewing landed and hit the basket, and Jordan punched him and roared at him like a god.

"At this time, Michael Jordan is the only superstar on the court! Charles Barkley has done his best, and Patrick Ewing cannot match him on the offensive end. Portland's era may really be coming!

"

Wilson stood up, shook off the team doctor's dissuading hand and walked towards Louis.

"coach..."

"Sit back."

Louis' face was as dark as water, but he didn't look at him.

"Coach, I can hold on until the end of the game." Wilson promised, "I only shoot outside, I swear."

"Didn't you hear what I said?" Louis pointed to the bench, "Sit back!"

In the six years since he entered the league, Wilson has only disobeyed Louis once.

The last time, and the only time, happened in his rookie season. He didn't play the last attack as Louis wanted, causing the team to lose. The opponent at the time was also the Trail Blazers.

Since then, he has never disobeyed Louis again.

When Wilson looked around, the magnificent Madison Garden had become a hell, as Portlanders tried to rule New York with their will.

The conquerors could not sit idly by.

He yelled at Louis: "I have to play!"

"Are you fucking deaf?" Louis finally looked at Wilson, "I told you to sit back!"

During the argument between Louis and Wilson, McHale used his signature step up and down in the paint, sending Nance flying. Just when he was about to take action, Robinson stepped forward and knocked Nance's body off the court.

"Beep!!!"

"That's it!"

Pat Riley's eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was mixed with a crazy desire to win.

The boos were like a tide, like thunder, like a heavy rain falling on the stadium alone.

However, no matter how much the fans booed, they could not stop the Portlanders from implementing the "no layup principle" to the end.

"They've gone crazy!"

"The Trail Blazers have ignored sportsmanship in order to win!"

"It was a great game and an ugly game!"

McHale couldn't get up, but his teammates helped him.

But he couldn't walk normally and limped to the free throw line to prepare for a free throw, which showed that he had been seriously injured.

"How many timeouts do we have left?" Louis asked the assistant coach.

Zhao Yuanzheng replied: "2."

Louis immediately ran to the technical desk and asked for a timeout.

There are still 6 minutes and 48 seconds left before the end of the game, 83 to 81, and the Trail Blazers lead by 2 points.

"CJ." Louis said, "You replace John."

"Dennis, you will play the fourth position from now on."

Louis looked at the eager Wilson, "Benj... the only thing you have to do is shoot!"

"CJ, you and Benj use the threat of shooting to attract the Blazers' defense on the outside and create offensive opportunities for Patrick."

"We need to use outside shooters to press the Blazers inside more effectively!"

"On the defensive end, Benj only needs to keep up with his opponent and does not need to participate in interior defense. If CJ cannot guard, he will guide him towards the trap. Trust Patrick and trust Dennis."

"If they want to try for a layup."

Louis' expression turned grim.

"I want you to give blood for blood!"

The timeout ended, the Knicks updated their lineup, and the Trail Blazers made no other adjustments except replacing Nance with Mason.

It's understandable to switch to Nance. He has already committed five fouls. It would be a better arrangement to sit on the sidelines for a few minutes and wait for the critical moment before going on the court for the decisive battle.

Anyway, the Trail Blazers will eventually be beaten inside by the Knicks. No matter whether Nance or Mason is played, the result will not change.

What frightens the Blazers inside is not Nance, but the rough fouls that come out of nowhere.

They modeled their team after the Knicks, but went to extremes.

Although the Knicks committed rough fouls back then, they were not proud of it and went so far as to do it in every round.

It can be said that Riley went too far on this road, but they did push the Knicks into a desperate situation.

"This lineup is too risky. CJ can't guard the Trail Blazers' wings. It's unknown how much Benj's defense is left now." Tomjanovich said worriedly.

Louis said helplessly: "We have no choice. If we don't relieve the offensive pressure inside, we can't win by defense alone. Patrick does not have indiscriminate offensive capabilities, and Portland has Mickey and Fatty, they can indiscriminately attack Offense. We have to do our best in the last six minutes both as a team offense and as an interior defense."

Chris Jackson hits two free throws made by McHale.

He put it all in.

83 to 83

The two sides tied.